Cat Blogging

IGLESIAS SAYS HE WAS FIRED OVER FAILURE TO TARGET NEW MEXICO DEMOCRAT

Former U.S. Attorney Iglesias just said on Larry King said that two hours ago indictments were handed down in an investigation targeting a prominent Democrat in his state, and that this was the case the Republican Congresswoman Heather Wilson was so interested in. Iglesias said that he believe that this is the case he was fired for.

He also said he believes that if he had brought indictments in this case he would still have his job. The clear implication is that this case is an instance of targeting someone solely for their politics, and as part of larger campaign to solidy political power. Which seems like big news.

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CHRIS MATTHEWS AND THE GREEN SEA MONSTER

It's going to require a whole team of psychiatrists to puzzle out what Matthews did on Imus this morning.

It was a truly bizarre rant involving green sea monsters rising out of the ocean, astrotruf in the car, college-educated women all hate Hillary, Birkenstock wearing beachcombers in Santa Monica, Bill having a playmate, John Edwards is a mystery, Elizabeth Edwards is a saint, Hillary's "need" to be President, and how people say "huge" in Philadelphia.
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Stockman Speaks

David Stockman did an interview with Larry Kudlow on CNBC.

Speaking out *after* he was indicted.

CNBC journalists looked suprised and impressed that Kudlow asked him "pointed" questions - then they concede that they worked together in the Reagan administration, that they've been friends for decades, and that Kudlow treated Stockman with "deference".

But they believe Stockman made good points. I'm shocked.

Stockman says it wasn't some like WorldCom or some pump and dump operation, but it's all the fault of the vicious Big Three auto makers.

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Buchanan: US Attorneys 'Bang People Up Against the Wall'

According to Pat Buchanan, veteran of Watergate: US Attorneys are "tough guys," "they bang people up against the wall and put people in prison for life," so it's okay for them to be purely political appointees who use the Department of Justice to help the Republican party and go after the Democratic party.

Funny, but I would have thought rational people would concede that because U.S. Attorneys have so much power, they should be a some remove from the more zealous pursuit of partisan politics. I guess not.

Oh, and Rove's aide should be a US Attorney because he's an Iraq veteran.
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Jeff Greenfield Says Limbaugh's Talking Points Must Be Asked

Jeff Greenfield says "people" were talking about all the things Katie Couric asked John and Elizabeth Edwards about.

Those questions were all over America's dinner table.

Oh, of course, Jeff Greenfield says staying in the race was the only thing they could do, he believes it's their choice, you have no right to judge. He "doesn't even understand the impulse" to suggest they should drop out. He thinks people should back off.

But still, he says, those questions "had to be asked."

Why?
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THOUGHT OF THE DAY

If Barack Obama is the Magic Negro, then George W. Bush is the Snake-Bit White Man.
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KHALID SHEIKH MUHAMMAD: "OKAY BY ME"

President: Captain, United States Navy
Detainee: Khalid Sheikh Muhammad
The Place: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. U.S. Navy Base.
Scene: Military Tribunal

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President: "Before we begin, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, I understand you speak and understand English. Is that correct?"

Detainee: [Detainee nods his head in affirmative]

President: "Alright. Are you comfortable in continuing in English or would you like everything translated in Arabic?"

Detainee: "Everything in English but if I have a problem the linguist will help me."

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President: "Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, do you understand this process?"

Detainee: "Yes. If I have question can I ask you?"

President: "Yes, you may."

Detainee: "About the testimony which I ask about the witnesses."

President: "Yes, I'm going to address the witnesses shortly. So, if you bear with us I will take that up in a few moments."

Detainee: "Okay."

President: "Do you have any questions concerning the Tribunal process?"

Detainee: "Okay by me."

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Most Americans Think Alan Greenspan Is Really Sexy

Via Atrios:

Andrea Mitchell, Hardball just now:

They're going to try to really tamp this down and appeal to the polling which indicates that most people think, in fact, that he should be pardoned. Scooter Libby should be pardoned.

CNN poll says 18% support pardon.
http://atrios.blogspot.com/
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GREAT MOMENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

PHOENIX (AP) -- Former NFL running back Richie Anderson, now an assistant coach with the Arizona Cardinals, was arrested during a Phoenix police anti-prostitution operation.

Anderson, 35, was arrested at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday for soliciting prostitution at about 9:30 p.m., Sgt. Andy Hill said. The department's vice unit was conducting an undercover sting operation in south Phoenix when Anderson allegedly solicited an officer posing as a prostitute.

It's the Cardinals! Dude was probably just recruiting for a better offensive line.
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Imus on Walter Reed: It's Donna Shalala's Fault

So Don Imus had a weird show this morning.

Got into an argument with Michael Beschloss over just how evil the Bush administration is. They both agreed it's full of liars and they have contempt for soldiers.

Imus playing dumb, keeps asking -- "why would Libby lie"?

It took Beschloss to point out that, oh, you know, maybe he lied to cover the lies they told sell the war, and to win the 2004 election, which Bush won by 50,000 votes in Ohio. And maybe if they hadn't lied so much, they wouldn't have won in 2004.

Regarding a pardon, Imus called Cheney a coward and said he should be in jail. And
Cheney "ought to at least have the decency to resign over this."

Later, Col. Jack Jacobs got on to say, I think, that because O.J. Simpson was acquitted and because Alfred North Whitehead said in the end there is no such thing as truth, Scooter Libby should be freed.

The high point, though, was Imus flashing photos on his show, like mug shots, of the two people most guilty for the Walter Reed scandal. That would be, of course, Donna Shalala and Bob Dole.